VESTAL, N.Y. – The Hartford softball team split its first two games of the 2022 America East Championship Tournament against Binghamton and Maine. The Hawks fell in game one to the Bearcats, 5-3, before they took home the win in game two against the Black Bears, 5-4. With the win, Hartford advances to day two of the tournament set to play in the 4 p.m. contest.
BINGHAMTON 5, HARTFORD 3
Hartford was off to a quick start in the opening game of the tournament, having the first two batters reach base and light up the board for one run.
Haley Cassidy got the game started off with a lead-off double over the center fielder's head before
Jordan Nastos would follow by lining a single through the right side of the infield to take the first lead of the game. In the third, Cassidy launched a line drive solo shot over the left field wall to give Hartford an early 2-0 lead. Hartford's starter,
Julianna Kocenski helped herself out in the fourth at the plate by blasting a solo round tripper out to left, giving the Hawks a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom half of the fourth. Despite the early offense, Binghamton got back into the game with two runs in the fourth and three more in the sixth. After a valiant effort to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, Hartford would fall to the Bearcats in game one, 5-3.
HARTFORD 5, MAINE 4
The Black Bears wasted no time getting off to a hot start, plating two runs in the opening frame. Hartford was held off the board until the fourth where the scoring came alive. Nastos got the inning started off right, digging out an infield bunt single to lead-off the frame.
Kelsey Galevich followed by driving an RBI single up the middle to bring home Nastos and cut the Maine lead in half. In the fifth, the Hawks plated the tying run after Cassidy kept her solid day at the plate going.
Chandler Mitchell led-off the inning with a single up the middle which was then followed by an RBI single from Cassidy which tied the game up at two a piece heading into the sixth. However, after Hartford rallied, the Black Bears would regain their lead in the sixth 4-2. In the bottom half, Mitchell placed a perfect line drive RBI single down the left field line to bring home
Sarah Serrano from third and cut the lead to 4-3. With three outs remaining in the game, Hartford found a way to mount a comeback.
Mara Sczecienski started it off by lacing a double into right center which was then followed by a walk drawn by Galevich. With two runners aboard and the tying run in scoring position,
Samantha Nagel stepped into the batter's box and ripped an RBI single into left, tying the game at 4-4.
Paige Fedak capped off the day for the Hawks with walk-off RBI single through the middle of the infield, giving Hartford the win, 5-4.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Kocenski (10-15) got the start in game one against Binghamton
- She took the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks while tallying six strikeouts over 5.2 innings of work
- Cassidy and Kocenski launched their third and fifth homeruns, respectively
- Viscardo appeared in relief in game one, striking out the one batter she faced in the sixth
- Caylee English got the start in game two against Maine, allowing three runs, one earned, over 5.1 innings
- Kocenski (10-15) earned the win after entering in relief in the sixth, allowing no runs with one hit and tallying two strikeouts over 1.2 innings of work
- Cassidy led the Hawks at the plate, going 3-for-7 on the day with one double, one homerun, one RBI and one run scored
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks are back in action tomorrow at 4 p.m., for day two of the America East Championship Tournament. Hartford will match-up against the lowest remaining losing seed from the first two games on tomorrow's slate.
